Thomas Incoom’s teammates and coaches have pretty vivid ways of describing his game.
Veteran long snapper JJ Jansen calls Incoom a “heat-seeking missile.” Fellow pass rusher D.J. Wonnum says Incoom is “like a lightning bolt.” And special teams coordinator Tracy Smith notes that he “leads the nation in want-to.”
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While you’ve probably never heard of the 6-foot-2, 265-pound outside linebacker from Stone Mountain, Georgia, he’s exactly the type of player who head coach Dave Canales, GM Dan Morgan and the rest of the Panthers brass want in the Carolina locker room. It’s not just about his physical traits, of which speed and stamina are paramount, but it’s also about his relentlessness as a competitor.
Panthers outside linebacker Thomas Incoom, right, avoids defense by Browns tackle Jackson Barton during joint practice at training camp in Charlotte on Aug. 6.
Incoom, sporting No. 48, regularly impacted special teams plays during the preseason. He made the most of his individual reps against Cleveland Browns and Houston Texans offensive linemen during joint practices. And in team drills, he became a pest for his pass-blocking teammates with his explosive quickness and unflinching motor.
“He can explode off the snap in whatever phase he’s in, whether it’s backwards or forwards,” Smith said Thursday.
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Plays like a DB at OLB
Incoom went undrafted out of Central Michigan in 2023. He signed with the Denver Broncos as an undrafted rookie and played in four games for the Sean Payton-led squad.
Following the 2024 preseason, Incoom was waived by the Broncos. The Panthers, though, came calling and added the young pass rusher to their practice squad ahead of their Week 1 matchup against the New Orleans Saints. Incoom quickly earned a promotion, making his Panthers debut in Week 4 against the Cincinnati Bengals.
While he was eventually put back on the practice squad, Incoom doubled his game total from 2023 with eight appearances during his first year with the Panthers. He played 39 snaps on defense and 174 plays on special teams.
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The limited sample size gave the coaching staff a peek at what Incoom could bring to the table if he was developed over entire summer in Charlotte.
“He’s got traits like a (defensive back),” defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero said. “He can really get off the ball. He can really run — he can run all day. He’s explosive, he’s strong. And the cool thing about him, just like a lot of our guys, is you’ve seen such growth and improvement from what he was last year at this time. So, we’re excited to see what he could do this season.”
Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels (5) is tackled by Carolina Panthers linebacker Thomas Incoom (48) on Oct 20, 2024, in Landover, Maryland
The Panthers reworked their outside linebacker room this offseason.
They said goodbye to veteran Jadeveon Clowney, signed free agent Patrick Jones and drafted second-round pick Nic Scourton and third-round pick Princely Umanmielen. They also retained Wonnum and 2023 third-round pick D.J. Johnson.
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So, Incoom had an uphill battle, at least on paper, when it came to making the team’s 53-man roster. Add in that a new outside linebackers coach, A.C. Carter, was leading the new-look group, and it’d be fair to say Incoom had the odds stacked against him.
New Orleans Saints wide receiver Jermaine Jackson (80) holds the ball as Carolina Panthers linebackers Jon Rhattigan (49) and Thomas Incoom (48) defend in the fourth quarter at Bank of America Stadium on Nov 3, 2024.
But Incoom was undeniable during the summer. He posted five tackles and a sack in the preseason opener against the Browns, and he showed off his untamable motor on special teams throughout the exhibition slate.
“He is trying absolutely as hard as he can on every play that’s there,” Smith said. “And that’s kind of brought him to the edge of what he can possibly to do with his abilities.”
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Incoom made it through the cut deadline and then the post-cut waiver wire. He had earned a home at Bank of America Stadium.
‘He just goes’
Smith’s special teams unit has undergone a significant facelift this season.
Special teams standouts like Feleipe Franks, Sam Franklin and Lonnie Johnson are gone. Sam Martin and rookie Ryan Fitzgerald have replaced Johnny Hekker and Eddy Pineiro as the team’s punter and kicker, respectively. And Carolina cut core special teams contributor, linebacker Jon Rhattigan, just last week.
Smith doesn’t have a bunch of established players on his unit. He has to make do with what he has, especially as the depth chart becomes stronger on offense and defense.
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But Incoom is a rare case: he’s ascending on both special teams and defense.
“He’s had a really nice camp, and I expect to see him keep going forward,” Smith said. “And really, really, expect him to match his potential, because of how bad he wants it, how hard he tries.”
Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Ke’Shawn Williams (85) tries to elude Carolina Panthers linebacker Thomas Incoom (48) during the second quarter on Aug 21.
Similarly, the locker room is taking notice of Incoom’s potential.
He’s not just a special teams contributor. He’s a guy who has earned his spot on the roster in multiple ways.
“He just goes,” Wonnum said. “Like he doesn’t really think too much, he just plays fast, and makes a lot splash plays for us in the backfield, just off of his speed and him going. Another guy that I’m proud of his development. Seeing him come in last year and just develop his pass rush arsenal and his confidence, and he’s continued to get better, and you can kind of see that in practice.”
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While Incoom’s playing time on defense, at least early on, might be scarce, he projects as a player who will make the most of his opportunities when given a chance.
The Panthers have seen that they can rely on in him on special teams, which is a unit that desperately needs some sort of consistency and continuity. And the more he can do for the squad, the more you’ll see No. 48 on the field on Sundays.
Incoom might not be on the radar of even the most diligent Panthers fans but based on how his teammates and coaches talk about him, he could be a guy that makes a difference for the team in multiple phases in 2025.